Keeping your secrets under wraps

You don't want your staff members sharing private practice information. Confidentiality agreements lay down the law—and keep your secrets from slipping out.

Confidentiality agreements protect your private or proprietary information from becoming public and help to ensure an ex-employee doesn't use this information for a competitive advantage. Practices most often use such agreements to keep associates from recruiting clients if they leave.

While confidentially agreements protect information, they don't prevent competition. To help discourage associates from becoming direct competitors if they leave, include noncompete agreements in your contracts.

Confidentiality agreements can work for staff members, too. A statement of confidentiality in your hospital policy manual prevents staff members from using clinic information, such as client names, for any purpose not specifically related to conducting business at the practice, such as solicitation for a side business like pet sitting.

Consult with your attorney before you enter into any confidentiality agreement. And make sure your agreement clearly limits the party's use of information in the way you want.

Also think about what you'll do if someone breaks the agreement. And remember, you may respond differently depending on what information the person shares. Disclosure of private practice data, for example, might result in disciplinary action and perhaps termination; however, disclosure of a trade secret might lead to a request for a monetary award from a court proceeding.

Philip Seibert, CVT, is an author, speaker, and consultant with Veterinary Practice Consultants in Calhoun, Tenn. Send questions or comments to ve@advanstar.com.